Search - Dorothy Collins :: Get Happy (Star of Televisions "Your Hit Parade") [ORIGINAL RECORDINGS REMASTERED]

At last a Dorothy Collins CD to enjoy!

James R. Stewar | Near Tucson, Arizona, USA | 01/19/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Dorothy Collins' recorded output has, most certainly, been one of the most neglected bodies of work by a major television and singing star...but, thank goodness, this double disc Jasmine release "Get Happy!" corrects this oversight by presenting a generous 59 cuts from Dorothy's entire 1950's discography of singles and albums, all marvelously remastered and sounding better than they ever have! Although Dorothy's recorded output was rather limited for someone who came into American's living rooms every Saturday night for 7 years, what was released was varied and marvelously executed. Dorothy's "Your Hit Parade" co-stars, Russell Arms, and Snooky Lanson, fared no better as far as vinyl releases go, with Russ managing only one LP release during his singing career, and Snooky only two. The other major "Your Hit Parade" star, Gisele MacKenzie, fared much better with at least a dozen LP releases during her career, along with a generous number of singles for Capitol, RCA Victor (and its family of labels), Everest, Mercury, etc.

The list of contributors to this Dorothy Collins collection is noteworthy with all three of her daughters sharing memories and pictures of their mother, and Russell Arms, the only surviving Hit Parade cast memeber from the shows' glory days, adding a note. Producer Bob Nikora has selected and sequenced the Dorothy tunes into one wonderful, cohesive collection, and the set stands strongly among his impressive series of re-issues by great singers like Margaret Whiting, The Ames Brothers, Don Cornell, Mario Lanza, Jo Stafford and The Fontane Sisters.

Starting off the set is a "Your Hit Parade" styled arrangement by Dorothy's then husband and Hit Parade co-star, Raymond Scott, "Moments to Remember." Scott's easily recognizable style is also represented on gems like "Suddenly There's a Valley," "Mr. Wonderful," "Singin' in the Rain," and "If'n." Other impressive arranger/conductors are heard backing MS Collins, like Dick Jacobs (who backed most of the stable of Coral stars like Teresa Brewer and The McGuire Sisters). And talk about recognizable arrangements; there's no way the listener won't take notice that it's Lawrence Welk and his Champagne Music backing Dorothy on four of the songs on this double CD. The legendary Gordon Jenkins handles the orchestra on two of Dorothy's early Decca recordings included here, while Jack Kane handles the baton while MS Collins capably sings some Steve Allen compositions. The gifted musical creators of Bing Crosby's classic holiday film, "White Christmas," Joseph Lilley (choir) and Nathan Van Cleve (orch) provide the backing on this collections' only stereo recordings, "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear," from Dorothy's one-album stint with Everest Records, where Raymond Scott acted as A&R man, until an artistic rift severed the business relationship, and found Dorothy moving on to Top Rank Records, and leaving one unreleased Everest album, "Singin' and Swingin', with her husband conductng, (sadly) forever in the can. Before he left (or was ousted) Scott also managed to lore Dorothy's Hit Parade co-star, Gisele MacKenzie, to Everest, for a one album and one single deal.

The music and moods vary greatly on this collection of songs, showcasing Dorothy's ability to handle just about any kind of musical style. The solid inspirational tune, "One God," is performed with strength and reverence, while it's fun-time on a novelty duet with Snooky Lanson, "I Will Still Love You." Ballads rule as Dorothy capably presents one of my favorites on the set, "All Full of Empty," from the Top Rank recording days. Musical masters, The Barney Kessel Trio, help Dorothy share her way with jazz, as she sings "I See Your Face Before Me," and "What Is This Thing Called Love." Dorthy came close to having hit records several times during her career, and those gems are on this set, too: "My Boy Flat Top," "That's All I Need," "Mister Santa," and "Seven Days." While starring on Hit Parade, Dorothy and Raymond briefly had their own record label, Audivox, and released a few singles, represent here by: "Tweedle Dee," (a country hit for Bonnie Lou on King label, and a pop hit on Mercury by Gerogia Gibbs), and "Crazy Rhythm." Of course, like most other stars of that era, Dorothy couldn't pass on adding country tunes to her discography, and she proves she was right at home with that style: "Four Walls," (the Jim Reeves RCA hit), "Down in the Valley," and "I Miss You Already." It is often said that rock 'n roll killed "Your Hit Parade," but nonetheless, Dorothy took her turn with some rock songs which are represented by: "No Rock 'n Roll Tonight," "Rock and Roll Train," and "Only You" (The Platters hit for Mercury). Somehow I feel that Dorothy's version of this collections' title tune, "Get Happy!", probably even made the song's 'owner', Judy Garland, take notice. This collection is a solid representation of one of the better recording/television stars, and voices, from the 1950's, long before she took Broadway by storm in her Tony nominated performance in "Follies.""

Nice tribute to nearly-forgotten 50s songbird

Thomas Bumbera | Maplewood, NJ USA | 02/05/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Having spent many years (and dollars) collecting the recorded output of Dorothy Collins, I am very happy to see that Jasmine has compiled the majority of her recordings here. Most are taken from singles, as Dorothy's contract with Coral came to an end just as the rock 'n' roll era was forcing pop singers into the "adult" album market (she did record two albums for Coral, both excerpted here). The collection has some flaws, notably a lack of recording dates in the liner notes, and I don't understand why Jasmine will not present tracks in chronological order. This is particularly annoying when album tracks (such as those from Dorothy's "Picnic" LP, a theme album of Steve Allen-penned tunes) are taken out of context. And of course the omissions include several of my favorites, including "Jump Back Honey," a duet with Snooky Lanson (the inferior B-side is included) and Dorothy's wondrous Audivox recording of her husband's beautiful composition "Mountain High, Valley Low" (which she also recorded with Scott for MGM). Also MIA are several other tracks recorded for MGM with Raymond Scott in the late 40s and tracks from her Top Rank LP (which would have been welcomed in place of the mediocre songs she cut with Lawrence Welk, included here). But as consolation we have seldom-heard delights such as the lovely "I Want It To Be Right" (an early Adams-Strouse composition), "Love Me As Though There Were No Tomorrow" and the delightful "Singin' In The Rain." Assuming that most contemporary listeners under the age of 50 know of Collins only from her work in the Broadway classic "Follies," this set provides them ample opportunity to sample Dorothy's work from her peak years. Is this the definitive Dorothy Collins collection? No. Should you buy it? Yes!"